Season Pass To Five B.C. Lift-Accessed Bike Parks To Be Awarded June 19

WHISTLER, BC April 30, 2010 – Win a summer of free riding in British Columbia, home of the highest concentration of lift-accessed mountain bike parks in North America. The Bike Parks BC “Ultimate Summer of Free Ride” contest asks riders to explain why they deserve a summer-long road trip to the best bike parks, and will reward the best blog or photo submission with an epic season of stoke.

The top submission on www.bikeparksbc.com or www.facebook.com/bikeparksbc will earn that rider the grand prize of a season pass at each of B.C.'s best bike parks: Whistler Mountain Bike Park, Silver Star Bike Park, Sun Peaks Resort, Fernie Alpine Resort and Mount Washington Bike Park. Plus, the winner will also get two lift tickets, two nights accommodation, two days of bike rentals, and a half day of expert guiding to share with a friend at each resort during the 2010 summer season; not to mention $1,000 so they can create the most epic summer road trip ever.

Riders can submit their photo or blog online from April 30 until midnight at June 14. The public will be able to vote for their favourites to determine the finalists announced June 15. A panel of celebrity judges will then determine the winner and on June 19 someone's ultimate summer of free ride with Bike Parks BC will begin.

The riding season is just around the corner with opening day at each Bike Parks BC resort quickly approaching. Get these opening dates on the calendar and start counting down:

May 15 - Whistler Mountain Bike Park

June 24 – Silver Star Bike Park

June 26 - Sun Peaks Resort

June 26 – Fernie Alpine Resort

July 1 – Mount Washington Bike Park

For more information and official contest rules and regulations about Bike Parks BC “Ultimate Summer of Free Ride” contest check out www.bikeparksbc.com. Don't forget to “like” www.facebook.com/bikeparksbc and follow @bikeparksbc on Twitter for all the latest news.

About Bike Parks BC

Formed in 2005, Bike Parks B.C. is a partnership of British Columbia's top all season resorts, Tourism British Columbia and the Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association. Bike Parks B.C.'s resort partners offer the very best facilities and services for mountain biking found anywhere in North America.

Bike Parks BC partnership is managed and coordinated by the Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA). The goal of the partnership is to create greater awareness about the many mountain biking resort destinations found in British Columbia. Each resorts offers a full range of accommodation and service options, professionally lead programs, high speed lifts, outstanding trails and fabulous mountain scenery.

“Pump your rump” - not the best title for an article on our new Pump Track, but once you’ve ridden the Pump Track, you would completely understand just why MBUK magazine’s lead journalist Doddy named his article this way - the Pump Track will literally kill you, from a fitness perspective!

The article is very complimentary of the Esher Pump Track, and I am really glad Doddy picked up on the big difference between our Pump Track and many of those that have come before - the so called “bmx pump tracks”

The Esher Pump Track is more like a 4X track in its 3-Dimensionality, and sheer aerobic workout, and the high level of skill required to really ride the track at full speed, and make the most of its many features and lines…

We are hoping to open the Pump Track in the near future, and with the BBC forecasting rain this weekend, it presents a prime opportunity for the trail crew to get all the “niggling” outstanding issues fixed, including the new backline which currently looks more like a piece of the Sahara desert, than something that belongs on a working Pump Track!

"Hey everyone I just wanted to give ya a shout and a lil run down on how my trip was to Switzerland. The event was a blast(just like the volcano)and went really well. I place in 5th and won best trick. 5th overall isn't bad since its the first event of the season. Now that my feet are wet and I know what I'm up against. I know what I need to do and what trick to put out of the bag for a podium. Tomorrow I'll send out 2 news paper clipping that i made it in. 1 from the event and the second just cause i was stuck there and the local paper wanted to run a story.

Now that the season is in full swing I'm heading up 2 bend Oregon this coming weds.just shortly after that I leave may 6th for the FISE event in France. So its a very busy season opening month and I cant wait to put a smile on yawls faces. We belong on top!

On this warm up attempt i never clicked my heals but you get the flow of what trick I did Shortly after this one i clicked them and went back to pedals for a smooth ride away. BackFlipHealClicker. BrapBrap!!!!!!!!"

Congrats on a great start of what looks to be a busy year competing at the top! Good to have you on board, and I'm glad you are enjoying the Amp frame.

I also stole this from Mikes Facebook...

' Mike Montgomery - Just finished the first session on my Banshee Rampant and flipwips, rodeo3s, 3wips all made an appearance! '

I can't wait to see what a he is going to throw down this year on the bigger slopestyle courses on the Rampant!!!

MBUK magazine is going to press on Saturday this week for subscribers, and on Wednesday 5th May for the newstands, and will feature Rob Cole riding his Mythic Rampant and John "Jesus" Holme riding his Mythic AMP, alongside MBUK's Doddy, Red Bull X-Fighter commentator and DH legend Rob Warner and Rob / John's buddy Marius all riding the Pump Track

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

So for all you in the northern hemisphere peeps I’m sure you are all buzzing at the blue skies and sunshine. Down here in Australia we have been getting a lot more clouds and these crazy situations where water falls from the sky. The last month has been full of digging and some riding for me and my canadian friend Jason Headley. We decided to commit a whole lot of time to build a couple new lines at my local jumps. Despite the time and effort it was worth it and makes the spot a lot more fun to ride.

The blog has been pretty busy this week and some important stuff has been getting pushed to the bottom and then right off the page. I wanted to wait a couple of days to post this up but once I watched it I could not wait …

Alexander MacMillan is no stranger to competition, having competed in basketball, football, and a multitude of other sports at a high level including playing hockey in Europe on two different tours. He is currently playing Junior “A” hockey in the BCHL. Alexander is the longest standing member of the MCL Racing team, entering into his fourth year with the team. Some highlights over the last four seasons include an 8th place finish at the Sea Otter Classic, overall 1st in the AB Juniors and a top 10 at Monte St Anne. His season last year consisted of a multitude of top 10 finishes, finishing 12 points shy of graduating to the elite level due to injuries. He has competed in Down Hill, 4 Cross, Super D and Dual Slalom and looks forward to campaigning on his new Banshee Legend II and Rampant for a full season this upcoming year in the; Canada Cup series, at The Sea Otter Classic, Alberta Cups, BC Cups and both Crankworx events.

Kellen VanDorland joined the MCL Racing Team in its second year and has ridden all over western Canada as well as parts of Scotland for gravity events and at home built his own dirt jump track to practice his skills. The last two years he has had to balance engineering school with his love of all types of bike riding. During his schooling he always ensures weekend mornings are put aside for a fun ride. Kellen is looking forward to this year on his bike and concentrating on training more specifically on his DH skills. Volunteering his time to trail day clean ups and builds is also one thing he enjoys to help out the biking community as a whole. He also looks forward to entering in more BC cup races this coming season and in all events to always put the fun between his legs.

Owen Godbout started his way riding on two wheels as a child racing BMX throughout Ontario and Quebec. After returning from racing and riding the New Zealand circuits for 7 months, he is charging into his 3rd DH season as an Albertan and MCL Racing Team member. He showed early results as a competitor in Canada and NZ and is determined to once again become point’s leader in his division and ride a full clean cut season. This will be accomplished while managing a full time work career. “See you all on the Loamy goodness..... Hold it wide and let it slide”!

Al Raines is seventeen years old and riding gravity events for four years and racing for the last three. He joined the MCL Racing Team took in many of the AB and BC races last year and has enjoyed the atmosphere and support from the older members of this team. Living in Calgary he honed his skills and lots of skin in the local hills and drivable places like Kamloops, Whistler and Golden. Looks forward to riding both of his new Banshee bikes for the 2010 season and plans for a full gravity racing experience.

Thomas Walker’s life in mountain biking is pretty much a Canadian standard; first watching “Drop-In” and getting ideas when he was 11 to make jumps out of spare wood and worrying about building a landing after trying them out and seeing how far he could go in the air. Nothing can compare to the oblivious state of being a kid and wanting to ride so much but knowing so little. This upcoming season, although being 16 and facing the challenge of balancing homework and biking, he is extremely excited to be a member of MCL Racing Team riding his Banshee Legend II and representing all our other sponsors.

Patrick Clarke at 16 years old and having been born in Vancouver, biking is in his blood. He joined MCL Racing at the end of last season and was able to compete in his first two races before the snow came. He is on one of his bikes at least once a day and made a special effort to make the final weekend at Whistler. He was heard to say “I cannot wait to ride for the team and all the sponsors – I’m super stoked to compete in DH & 4X this upcoming season”.

Stephen Lombardo is a dedicated trail builder and rider throughout the Calgary bike scene. Like most other 16 year old bike riders he just wants to spend as much time as possible riding his Legend II and to progress with his riding skills. He unfortunately has no race results from last year as he was out with a broken collar bone gained while practicing for his first BC Cup race. This season Stephen plans to elevate his riding with the help of his Legend II and stay on his bike as much as possible while he competes in as many races as he can attend.

Tate Benwell spent his first years of biking in the wilds of Whitecourt, Alberta, where he originally picked up the love of challenging difficult bush trails. He excelled at the more physical games as he played tackle during several years of football on Bantam and High School teams. He has been riding for 6 years now and biking is his first passion and high level racing is a reachable dream now that he will be piloting the Banshee Legend II on this well organized biking team. One of his favourite pastimes is building trails and jumps and then being the one who ends up hitting them first and has the scars to show for it.

Thomas McMorran has spent most of his early years racing MotoX bikes both outdoor & indoor and still rides the odd race. Now the thrill of Down Hill bicycle riding and racing has taken the place of the motorized “adrenalin rush drive”. Thomas has experienced the variety of trails on almost every resort within driving distance of Calgary, once driving to Whistler for just a one day event. By 16 he has shown that he is a natural at scoping and conquering a new riding level. He has found many ways to conquer technical trails on a flying bike but he still has many more questions that together with the MCL Racing Team support and astride his Banshee Legend II will find the answers.

Sea Otter Team pictures to come as soon as I solve some computer issues with my notebook.

Leaving the snowy hills of Nevada City California behind, Team Geronimo/Banshee Bikes made our way up the coast to the first stop of the Pro Gravity Tour Series, located just outside the Port Angeles. Team Geronimo riders Graeme Pitts, Michael Buell and myself made the trip out. The Northwest Cup race organizers put together an incredible race, international competition and some of the world’s top teams were in attendance. The town opened up its arms to the whole racing community as Allout Productions held a video premier in town and hotels created bike washing areas for all to use. The vibe was really laid back and friendly when practice commenced on Thursday as the shuttle trucks chugged along up and down Dry Hill all day long making for optimum practice time on a fast and furious Pacific Northwest track.

The Team Geronimo/Banshee Bicycles pit was set up adjacent to the food cart and the shuttle truck queue, prime position as all competitors and spectators had to walk past. The Hayes Bicycle Group equipped Banshee Legend MKII team bikes were on display, clean and race ready. With everything buttoned down and the Team Geronimo flags flying it was time to get dirty.

Practice went off without a hitch as the shuttle trucks kept our Team moving up the hill for more. A far reach from the Sea Otter Downhill, the Port Angeles track was a big test for us and a great time to really hone in on our bike set up. The weather was phenomenal as blue skies and sunshine made for a fast track and happy riders. I can’t remember the last time I saw so many riders enjoying themselves, the track and the surroundings. The track was the same as last year’s Pro GRT track, a sub 3 minute, hot, nasty, white knuckle speeds through the tight woods smashing berms and getting loose over exposed, slick roots and rocks. It was so much fun to ride, each run getting faster and faster, the level of riding on the track was comparable to that of a World Cup race.

Saturday came with rain causing the track to slow down, ruts started to develop and the soil was less predictable in places, but it did not slow anyone down - the track was just too much fun. With our carefully- engineered mud fenders attached to the lower crowns of our Dorado forks, we were off to the top of the hill yet again to get our practice on. My practice session was cut short due to the most massive dead leg I have ever experienced, a lot of icing, stretching and pain management ensued all the way up 'til qualifiers that afternoon. Uncertain of how I would perform on my newly-sustained injured leg, I left the starting gate and had a steady run minus much pedaling. Michael and Graeme both had steady runs as well, all of us qualifying mid-pack in a World Cup caliber field of competitors.

Sunday morning greeted us with clear skies, which meant for a faster, drier track during practice. I spent my practice runs sectioning the track, making sure my speed was race pace to insure a successful race run. The atmosphere at the venue was electric, there was so much excitement and buildup to the Pro finals as the Port Angeles locals, equipped with their drums, bells, whistles and fog horns started their march up the hill. One hour before Pro finals started spectators lined the track of Dry Hill cheering on the Junior CAT 1 riders and the announcer was primed spouting off one liners - time to head back up the hill one last time.

Michael Buell

Michael was the first rider to leave the start for Team Geronimo. Sprinting hard out of the gate he looked very focused and ready to improve upon his qualifier from the previous day. He had a burner of a run going, the bike was working great and everything was hitting on all cylinders until he clipped a root with his foot on a crucial short uphill section two thirds the way down the track causing him to lose all momentum and necessitate a sprint off his bike uphill. It was a catastrophic mishap that lost him a lot of time and energy. In the grand scheme of things it was a great weekend and learning experience for him as it is still very early in the season, he is getting back up to speed on the bike and is feeling more and more confident each run. Michael Buell, 81st on the day. There will be another day.

Brian Buell

My leg was a big concern for me come race day, very uncertain how it would react overnight I was prepared to do anything to race to the best of my ability. A remarkable turnaround from the previous day, I felt strong - strong enough to give it my all for the final. My run started off very fast, the track was running very quick and I had to refocus as the speeds I was reaching were faster than I had run in practice. I was extremely pleased with my efforts up top but near the middle of the track I made some crucial mistakes the cost me momentum and time. I was pushing it to the limit and found the hill pushing back as I struggled to keep it upright. Nearly home free, I made one more mistake after compressing hard out of a turn and nearly into a frightened photographer. Once through the finish line I had a chance to relax and reflect on one of the most thrilling runs of my career. How I stayed upright is beyond me. I hit all of the technical sections of the track well and was very happy with how I approached my run. My bike was incredible and I could not be happier with my setup. I got a little overzealous in some sections and maybe a little unlucky which ultimately cost me. Brian Buell, 42nd on the day and gaining momentum.

Graeme Pitts

Graeme was the top qualifier on Team Geronimo and he solidified his big dog status by doing it again with a good run down through the dense Pacific Northwest hillside. He was extremely focused before his race run, had a great warm up and visualization ready to take to the track. Cool, calm and consistent he threw down a smooth run with only minor mistakes, one of those losing momentum out of a key turn riding in the soft soil teetering on the edge of the track. Happy with his efforts and his run, he is still determined to get faster each and every time he is on the bike. He was on fire all weekend and when it all comes together, watch out as he is a force. Graeme Pitts, 30th on the day in a field that included a multitude of World Cup-level racers - his eye is on the prize.

It was an amazing weekend of riding and racing. The big guns showed up and everyone had their game face on. This “mini” World Cup was a great experience and the time on the bike was extremely important as the season continues to roll on. We’re back in California now to train and prepare for the East Coast swing that stops off first in Nathrop, Colorado for Round 1 of the Mountain States Cup Gravity Series and bit of gated racing.

I got a request the other day for a copy of my thesis for research purposes from a German engineering student, and it got me thinking that it might provide some insight, or at very least entertainment to some of you guys. Looking back at this I realise that I have learned a LOT since this project, and man o man has the Legend changed since those days.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Rabbit Valley Rally took place in the desert west of Fruita, Colorado in scenic, you guessed it, Rabbit Valley. This was the first race on the Mountain States Cup and only held cross country events. Therefore, it was just Darin and I attending from team Banshee deadbros. I had left from my house in Glenwood Springs on the previous wednesday and ridden my xtracycle Morphine around 130 miles to the race. The trip had been long, pulling out an 80 mile day on the first day. I did the slacker move and rested the next day at my friend Brian's house. I really gotta thank him and his wife Tasha for letting me hang out with them and their son, Dylan, and crashing out on the couch for two nights. I'm lucky to have so many good friends in so many different places. With their help the tour was relatively comfortable. While riding out, I was suprised that I had no bad encounters, even with farm dogs and oil related big rigs. The dogs would come out and either just smell me or run alongside trying to figure out what I was. The truckers would give me plenty of room and wave as they drove by. With my alternative style I'm sure a lot of people got a kick out of me taking roadside cow trails instead of pavement.

I met up with Darin in Fruita and ditched out on the last twelve miles or so, and we headed to the site to make camp.We had a really good ride on Saturday previewing the 31 mile race course Darin was in for on Sunday. The time trial was going on in another trail section, so we took advantage of the good weather and light traffic. The veiws off the west rim are great, and I always stop in a certain place when I ride to throw rocks off the cliffs, eat lunch and have a little rest under some boulders. It finally feels like spring here in the ColoRADo rockies, with desert flowers in bloom the ride was more colorful than the last year at this race.

Darin had his race on Sunday. He was happy that we had already ridden the course so he could know when to pin it and when to relax and enjoy the ride. He knew that it would be a little rough for him, seeing as he was in the single speed open class and the race was too short for him. This guy does more distance than anyone else I know, so when the other guys are burning out he's just warming up. His gear ratio was a little lean, so he kept his pace fast and hard on all the hills but got spun out on the flats. The other ss dudes were running a 2:1, so with Darin on a 32x18 he made time on the way up and descended without brakes for the most part.

Just before the start, Darin handed me an apple and said meet me where you did last year and give me this apple. So I pedaled out a little before the start of the CAT 1 category where Darin's class was mixed in so I could get some shots and video of him and some of the other boys. I counted eight single speeders before I saw Darin on the way out. By the time I saw Darin again, he'd gained at least one spot in the twenty mile loop before the last stretch in. I handed him the apple, he took a few bites while pedaling up a hill, dropped it and took off. In the end, Darin earned a respectable seventh place. Congrats, Darin.

After the race, all Darin could say was it was too short. I think he's probably looking forward to 18 hours of Fruita coming up in the next couple weeks. That is definitely more his style of race, and we'll be out there to cheer him on. I will once again pedal out from my house, probably leave a little earlier in the day so I'm not scared to death on Interstate 70, racing hard to keep from becoming one with the front of a semi truck or the guardrail. Remember, kids, look fast, pedal faster.

Three weekends ago, members of the Pro Downhill Mountain Bike race team were in Guatemala for the Pan Am Championships, followed by the nation's largest biking event - the Sea Otter Classic, held in Monterey, CA. From there, the team continued on to Port Angeles, Washington for another major race.

Racing is a main part of their schedule, but Team Geronimo is especially looking forward to bringing the magic of biking to the students at The Grizzly Youth Academy located at Camp San Luis Obispo. Students will have a chance to test out a variety of high tech bikes and learn about the world of Pro bike racing.

Special thanks to Major John Oberg for arranging this opportunity for the team and the students.

Last week I was in California staying with Jack, riding some local spots like the famous step up and epic DH trails, as well as shooting a bike check with photos from from Justin Brantley.

Jack's new bike arrived while I was staying at his place last week after Sea Otter. So we built it up at his local bike shop the next day and hit the local trails (Which are AMAZING!). I crashed out on the first day (woops) and bashed my elbow up so spent most the time filming, then helping Jack edit the footage together. Justin was on hand doing what he does best by taking some great photos in the tricky lighting conditions of the forest.

We had a great couple of days filming Jack enjoying his new big rig, but nobody was smiling as much as the Fogel who was loving being back on a big bike, and finding himself riding harder and faster than ever before.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

In my absence James has been hard at work clearing out dead bamboo, clearing grass and shoveling dirt. We had been talking about building a step up and when I showed up today it was already there. Maybe I should go away more often …

Props to James for building the new step up. We spent all afternoon jumping and tweaking it.

Note: click on pictures for full size ...

I have the new Manitou Circus dirt jump fork on my Amp. I have about a dozen rides on the Circus, I had high expectations after reading initial reviews and the fork has exceeded those expectations. During Sea Otter I picked up the perfect accessory for the Circus. Thanks Rich, Len and Sean at Manitou for the hook up.

For more information on the circus go here or here or here … I would get another one just for another clown nose.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Tom Deacon (Current UK National Point Series Elite DH champion) is on the Banshee/Mythic Factory Team this year riding the world cup races. Keep an eye out for him, he is fast AND consistent, and will be riding the Legend MkII at all world cups this year, as well as representing Great Britain at the World Championships.

Not only is Tom a consistently fast ripper, but he also has great flow when dirt jumping, and spends a lot of his time building lines, and is a really nice guy to boot! I'll let this video do the talking!

Official Press release with sponsors list etc to follow... I am really excited about this year, as the Deacon / Brayton pairing is going to be a force to be reckoned with! So If you are going to be at any WC evets this year, dust off that cow bell and give them some support!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

It's another Sea Otter for the books, but 2010 marked the debut of Team Geronimo at the nation's biggest biking event.

Brian Buell and Graeme Pitts arrived back stateside from competing in the Pan Am Championships in Guatemala just in time to load up the Team Geronimo trailer in the middle of a Sierra blizzard. Michael Buell and Brandon Turman joined them a day later, and the trip to Monterey was underway. Team mate Cody Eichhorn was forced to miss celebrating his birthday at Sea Otter due to an elbow injury earlier in the year which required repeat surgery. He is healing well and due to join the team at the US Open at Diablo Freeride Park in NJ over Memorial Day weekend.

The Team Geronimo/Banshee Bikes tent was conveniently situated right next to the Hayes Bicycle Group tent, and the whole area was abuzz with energy. Banshee Bikes engineer, Keith Scott, Trident Performance Sports and the Canadian Banshee Team joined in the pit, providing good cheer and camaraderie for the entire event. The team and the bikes got a huge amount of attention, with many people getting a chance to try out the team Legend Mk II, Rampant, Amp, Paradox and Spitfire.

This post is a short one, on the way to the Port Angeles Pro Gravity Tour race, which is turning into a mini World Cup race due to the ash from the Icelandic volcano, causing planes to be grounded. As we get situated there, we'll have more photos from Sea Otter and more news. Above photos courtesy of Geoff Pitts; more available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/geoffpp/

Thanks to Jay MacNeil at Banshee Bikes for continued support and all his hard work behind the scenes as we get to enjoy these magnificent machines and bring them to the world. We'd also like to thank Lawrence Saiyo for his help in getting them built in time for Sea Otter, and being present in the pit as our mechanic. A big thank you to Devon Balet, who got some incredible shots of the team as he put up with us all week. You can view his photos at http://devonbaletphoto.com

Subscribe Now

Disclaimer

All content on the blog is free to use and distribute.

Exceptions belong to images or video that have watermarks that do not belong to Banshee.If you would like to use these please send me a message and I will get you in contact with the owner of said media.